Stephen Padlo of Upper Pittsgrove, New Jersey, was one of Antiques Roadshow’s youngest “up-and-coming collectors” they’d ever encountered.

It’s not a display we generally associate with children, but it was evident that this adolescent was overjoyed to show off his prize.

According to NJ.com, Stephen’s father Frank stated that the duo had previously attended exhibition events in other locations, but this was the first time Stephen requested to be photographed with one of his treasures. If you watch the program, you know that some of the surprises may be devastating when someone discovers their “prize” is worth nothing.

This time, Stephen approached the evaluation table across from David Weiss in Richmond, Virginia, with a picture he had bought at an auction for $2.

But the people on the show weren’t simply making fun of him.

The show usually features average individuals who bring in family heirlooms and yard sale treasures for expert appraisals (though some are more serious collectors) and are anxious to hear if they’ve “hit gold.”

Stephen and his father, Frank, were lucky enough to obtain tickets to the Virginia stop, resulting in a road trip. People will go to tremendous lengths to appear on the program, after all.

Stephen met Weiss, an appraiser from the Philadelphia auction company Freeman’s, there.

We must admit that we were impressed with how polite he was to the young man. He was never condescending, and he addressed Stephen like he would any other visitor.

Stephen, too, rose to the occasion.

He’s a really confident child!

“You’ve got to be the youngest collector I’ve ever seen,” Weiss remarks at one point.

“I must be,” the adolescent responds.

“You like buying and selling things?” Weiss asks.

“Huge time,” says Stephen.

Additionally, the adolescent didn’t buy the painting just once. He collects glass, sterling silver, and various works of art!

This specific work of art caught his eye at a large auction.

“This artwork was discovered at an auction in South Jersey,” he said. “It was so hot there that my dad didn’t want to remain to get it, but I did, so we waited about an hour, and I got it for two bucks.”

The wait is worthwhile.
When Stephen picked up the painting that day, he had a keen eye.

Weiss informed him that the artwork was most likely created in the late 1800s.

As you can see, it shows a woman sewing, knitting, or fixing something around the house while a child with a toy looks on. It’s a simple domestic setting.

The biggest hint to its origins, though, is a small signature that says “Albert Neuhuys” in the corner.

Neuhuys was a painter from the Netherlands who lived from 1844 to 1914.

In his day, he was well known for painting domestic settings with peasants as his subjects. He frequently drew the families of local farmers and weavers.

Weiss informed Stephen that it was a fantastic find and hinted at a prospective career as an art collector.

“I believe you have a promising career as an art trader. “You should keep going,” he advised the youngster.

But how much is it worth?
The artist frequently created duplicates of his watercolors, with just a handful of them being “one of a kind.”

Whatever study he performed before the presentation convinced him that the artwork was still a worthy purchase, potentially worth $150.

When Weiss tells him it’s worth more than that, he’s on the edge of his seat.

In the video below, Stephen’s response (particularly his “mind-blowing” fist pump) is a must-see.

Yet, needless to say, he’s taken aback by her true worth.
“Whoa!” is all he can say.

Scroll down to see the whole thing unfold. It’s a fantastic clip!